The leader of the Syrian Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Ahmad al-Sharaa addresses the crowd inside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, on Dec. 8, 2024. (Credit: Aref Tammawi/AFP)
During their first visit to Syria on Friday after the fall of the Assad regime, the French and German foreign ministers called for a peaceful and inclusive political transition in the country — a promise Syria’s new ruler Ahmad al-Sharaa made in the first days following the fall of Assad on Dec. 8. A transitional government to run the country until March 2025 was announced, before the formation of a cabinet of technocrats, according to announced plans. Meanwhile, a national conference is due to be held this month — which Sharaa promised would bring together 1,000 participants to discuss Syria’s future. Despite the promising announcements, some warned against a monopolization of the centers of power by the country’s strongman, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, and as leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the rebel...
During their first visit to Syria on Friday after the fall of the Assad regime, the French and German foreign ministers called for a peaceful and inclusive political transition in the country — a promise Syria’s new ruler Ahmad al-Sharaa made in the first days following the fall of Assad on Dec. 8. A transitional government to run the country until March 2025 was announced, before the formation of a cabinet of technocrats, according to announced plans. Meanwhile, a national conference is due to be held this month — which Sharaa promised would bring together 1,000 participants to discuss Syria’s future. Despite the promising announcements, some warned against a monopolization of the centers of power by the country’s strongman, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, and as leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led...